Chaplains experience Air Force in 'Come Be With Us' Published May 21, 2010 By Capt. Andrew Thornley Air Force Recruiting Service RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In the shadow of Pikes Peak, a group of Roman Catholic priests visiting Peterson AFB, Colo., watched as a 21st Space Wing Security Forces military working dog team demonstrated the power of a German Shepherd to enforce the law. Just hours before, they flew by the peak on a C-21 incentive ride, courtesy of the 200th Airlift Squadron, also based at Peterson AFB. These were but two of the many opportunities the fathers had to observe Airmen in action. In the process, they were shown the importance of the ministry of Catholic chaplains in today's demanding military environment. From April 5 to 8, eight civilian Catholic priests, representing dioceses from New Jersey to Nevada, participated in "Come Be With Us," a ministry familiarization tour of the United States Air Force Academy and Peterson AFB conducted by Air Force Recruiting Service. The Air Force lifestyle was put on full display for these priests contemplating service in the Air Force Chaplain Corps. Also attending was His Excellency, Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS), headquartered in Washington, D.C. The archbishop is responsible for every Catholic priest who serves as an Air Force chaplain, since they must first be endorsed through the AMS. The number one Chaplain Corps critical shortage faith group minister is the Catholic priest. The scarcity has become pronounced in recent years. Currently, 25 Air Force bases do not have an active duty priest, a troubling statistic considering active duty Roman Catholics make up 24 percent of the Air Force's 328,000 personnel, not including family members and civilians. Col. Michael Tillema, chief of the Strategic Marketing and Communications Division at AFRS, accompanied AFRS chaplain recruiters to Colorado Springs to share his experiences as a lifelong Catholic with the priests. The ministry of all chaplains has been important to him throughout his 22-year career, but it has been the Catholic chaplains who have particularly enhanced the faith journey of his family. "I admire their calling to the faith and to our military," Colonel Tillema said. "The spiritual guidance each of the priests we've met has been a true blessing to my family and I." In addition to Colonel Tillema, the priests heard from a variety of speakers, including seasoned Catholic chaplains from local bases, as well as Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM. General Renuart spoke of the importance of the chaplains' advice and influence on commanders. Though a three-day tour is typically too early to tell if recruiting efforts have been completely successful, the resulting sense of excitement among the priests was palpable. Father Dairo Diaz of the Archdiocese of Hartford said, "I am a diocesan priest, not very familiar with the Air Force chaplaincy. Coming to the 'Come Be With Us' program provided me with the basic information and great motivation to continue discerning this call to serve as a Catholic chaplain priest." Another commented, "It was great to see how loved, wanted and needed Air Force chaplains are." The end result of the tour was heartening to the chaplain recruiters. Several priests expressed the desire to answer the call to the Chaplain Corps, with two of them beginning the application process. One said it best: "If home is where the heart is, then I have found home."